Canucks Autism Network: Supporting Individuals with Autism ... · Canucks Autism Network...
Transcript of Canucks Autism Network: Supporting Individuals with Autism ... · Canucks Autism Network...
Canucks Autism Network: Supporting Individuals with Autism
in Sport
Stephanie Jull, PhD, BCBA-D: Director of Programming, Canucks Autism Network
Outline
• Canucks Autism Network
• Autism?
• Group Strategies
• Coaching Tips
• Motivation Tools
• More Resources!
Canucks Autism Network
• Non-profit in Vancouver
• Hands-on Programs
– Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna
• Training for sports and recreation providers
Autism is on the rise Current estimate (2014) from US Centers for Disease Control: 1 in 68 children; 1 in 42 boys Reasons are unclear MUCH more support is needed
autismspeaks.org, 2014
Autism Prevalence is on the Rise
Community Sport
• Rates of physical activity are consistently lower
• Participation in community recreation and sports activities is often unsuccessful
Where do kids with autism fit?
• 40% have average to above average intelligence
• Do not qualify for Special Olympics
Training and Outreach
• CAN/Special Olympics Canada NCCP Modules
• Working with CAC
• Working with ViaSport
What is Autism?
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Social-emotional reciprocity
• Nonverbal communication
• Developing friendships
• Repetitive behaviour
• Routine & change
• Sensory sensitivities
Autism: Social Reciprocity
Core Feature:
• Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
– Difficulties with perspective taking
– Poor conversation skills
– Poor social initiation skills
Supporting Social Reciprocity
• Taking turns
• Understanding someone else’s perspective
• Joining into activities
Autism: Nonverbal Communication
Core Feature
• Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors
– Reading sarcasm, body language, tone of voice
– Differences with eye contact
Autism: Developing Relationships
Core Feature:
• Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships
– Difficulties with 'reading’ the social world and learning expected behaviours
– Challenges sharing imaginative play
– Difficulty engaging others
Supporting Relationships
• Often social rules and routines need to be explicitly taught
– How to be a “good teammate”
– How to lose, how to win
Autism: Repetitive Behaviour
Core Feature:
• Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects;
– Repetitive behaviours
– Repetitive speech
Autism: Anxiety/Change
Core Feature: • Excessive adherence to
routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior, or excessive resistance to change;
– Anxiety: with changes in routine, new activities, people
Autism: Restricted Interests
Core Feature:
• Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus;
– Strong special interests
Autism: Sensory Reactivity
Core Feature: • Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to
sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment;
Hyper: Sound, lights, texture, etc. Hypo: Temperature, pain
Delays with Physical Literacy
• Sports environments = social environments
• Sports may be challenging both physically and socially
• Poor physical literacy due to fewer opportunities?
Good Coaching on Steroids
• Great Practice Plans
– Lots of Structure, Little Wait Time
– Strategies for Social Inclusion
– Appropriate Competition and Challenge
More Resources
• ViaSport Webinar
– Viasport.ca/resources
• Physical Literacy Resources
– http://piseworld.com/physical-literacy-resources/
• Downloadable Visual Supports • http://www.canucksautism.ca/Learn_more_about_
autism/Visual_Supports.htm